Slub catcher



Dec. 23, 1941., H. OWENS SLUB CATCHER Filed Dec. '14, 1939 Patented Dec. 23, 1 941 UNETE.

N T Q FF! CE SLUB CATCHER Henry Owens, Edgewood, R. I.,

assignor to Henry Owens & Company, Inc., Providence, R. L, a

corporation of Rhode Isl and 15 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in slub catchers for use in twisting, winding, spinning, doubling, or lik machines.

An object of my invention is to provide a slub catcher which may be used with a plurality of strands which may have slubs therein for twisting or doubling said strands. While I am aware that others have provided slub catchers for single strands for use in front of spinning, winding and other textile machines, so far as I am aware I am the first to provide a slub catcher actuated by a plurality of strands which on contact with a slub in any of said strands will function to break all of said strands. This feature of my invention is particularly adapted for use in twisting or doubling textile strands. Under the present standard practice, the strands come ofi thespinning machines in small packages and they are then wound into larger packages prior to being twisted or doubled in a twisting or doubling machine. At present various types of prior art slub catchers are employed on the winding machines. It is now possible, however, to spin into larger packages and by employing a type of slub catcher which will function on a plurality of strands constructed in accordance with my invention, I am enabled to eliminate entirely the intermediate step of winding with consequent great saving in the cost of twisted or doubled yarn.

A further feature of my invention relates to the provision of a slub catcher, whether for use with a single strand, or a plurality of strands which may be readily threaded and for this purpose I mount the operating parts, namely, the trapping or cutting means and guide or feeler members below a post or other stationary part, with the guide members substantially in rear of a down. wardly tapered outer end of such a post. With this construction, it is merely necessary tolay a strand in an open guide slot on a guide member and thread it into the draft or twisting means when the strand will automatically slide into cutting or trapping position below the post.

A further feature of my invention relates to the provision of a slub catcher for use with a single strand or a plurality of strands, which is simple in design, being constructed of a small number of rugged parts, positive in their action and in which the operating parts are normally concealed within a frame, thereby substantially lessening the liability of objectionable lint, oil, .etc., so often present in textile mills, clogging the operation of the slub catcher, or injuring the strands produced.

These and such other objects of my invention as may hereinafter appear may be best understood from a description of the accompanying drawing which illustrates various embodiments thereof.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a slub catcher constructed in accordance with my invention for use with a plurality of strands.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the slub catcher shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through my device and adjacent draft roll portions with the slub catcher in open operative position.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through my device after it has functioned to break all the strands on abutment of a slub in one of the strands against the guide means thereof.

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of an alternative form of my invention constructed for use with a single strand.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view similar o i 4 h o gh th em diment of my invention h n in Fla 5 a d adiace nt ra .t rol p rt o s after the device has functioned to break the strand on abutment of a slub in the strand guide means thereof. v I In the drawing, wherein like characters .of reference indicate like parts throughout, I0 and It generally indicate a slub catcher constructed in accordance with my invention. The preferred embodiment of slub catcher l0 shown in Figs. 1-51 is adapted for use in twisting, winding, spinning, or doubling a plurality of strands [2 and l2 which may have slubs I4 therein. In this embodiment of my invention, I provide cutting means .[6 for all said strands, preferably .of-nniltary construction as shown'in Figs. 1 and 2 and strand guide means l8 for said strands, also preferably of unitary constructions and having separate strand apertures .29? and 20 for each respective strand, each of a size to normally per.- mit passage of said strands .IZ and IZ therethrough with said strand guide means 18 being movable .on contact with a slub M in one of said strands to actuate said strand cutting rneans 1,6 to break all'said strands 12 and 12 I have shown in Figs- 5 and 6 a slub catcher '10 constructed to function on a single strand l;2 only having substantially thesame parts. I preferably employa post 22 or 22 mounted to extend transversely horizontally above the respective strands 12 and 12 or strand l2 and pivotally mounted trapping'or cutting means [6 or it" terminating in a trapping or cutting edge 24 or tive strand pulling its respective slub to raise said trapping or cutting arm I6 or I6 to cause I the edge 24 or 24' thereof to abut said post 22 or 22' to break both the strands I2 or ID, or the single strand I2.

It is thus apparent that both th trapping or cutting means and the strand guide means are mounted for movement below the post 22 or 22' in a position out of the way of the operation of the draft or twisting means of the machine on which the slub catcher is mounted and to permit the .ready insertion of a strand or strands therein. To hasten this threading movement the outer end of the post 22 or 22' is preferably downwardly tapered as at 26 or 26 and the respectiveguide slots 26 and 20 or 26' are located in rear of the downwardly tapered outer end 26 or 26' of said transverse post 22 or 22. To thread the slub catcher, therefore, it is apparent that it is merely necessary to place the respective strands I2*-- or I2 or the strand I2 in their respective guide slots 26 and ZIP or 20' and thread the ends thereof in the twisting or draft means such as illustrated by the draft rolls 28 or 28 when, on rotation of the rolls in the actual textile operation, the respective strands will be pulled taut and slide off the respective downwardly tapered outer end 26 or 26 of the respective post 22 or 22 to assume a position underneath their respective post in linewith their respective slots 20 or 20 or 20 between the respective cutting edge 24 or 24 and the respective posts 22 or 22'. It is thus obvious that the forward pivotal trapping movement of the pivotally mounted cutting or trapping means I61o'r I6 is limited by its respective post.

In order that the operating parts of my device may be further concealed and removed from the objectionable lint, I preferably mount the post 22'or 22 on a frame 36 or 30 preferably of inverted U-shape mounted transversely of said machine in rear of said draft or twisting means 28 or 28'. The raised U-base 32 or 32 thereof is provided with a central transverse slot 34 ,or 34' over which said strands I2 and I2 or I2 are adapted to pass and each U-leg 3| 'or 3| thereof is providedwith a projection 33 M33 projecting outwardly therefrom for securement thereof to the textile machine by means of screws, or otherwise. With this construction, it is obvious that the rear pivotal movement of the trapping or cutting means I6 or I6 is limited by the rear edge of the transverse slot 34 or 34'.

I have shown in the drawing two types of connections between the guide means I8 or I8 and the trapping or cutting means I6 or I6, in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-4 a lost motion connection between the respective guide means I8 and the cutting or trapping means I6 "thereof and in my embodiment shown in Figs.

and 6' an integral connection between said'respective'guide means I8 and cutting or trapping means I6'. In both embodiments the post 22 or 22' is mounted on an extension 36 or 36' projecting upwardly from said U-shaped frame.

In both embodiments a pivot pin 38 or 38' is mounted transversely of said frame below the post 22 or 22 and the trapping or cutting means in both embodiments comprises a trapping or cutting arm I6 or I6 pivotally mounted on said pivot pin 38 or 38' extending upwardly through the respective frame transverse slot 34 or 34' and terminating in the trapping or cutting edge 24 or 24' below said post 22 or 22 adjacent the respective strand or strands I2 and l2 or I2 limited in its rear pivotal movement by the rear edge of the transverse slot 34 or 34 and in its forward pivotal cutting or trapping movement by said post 22 or 22. Suitable pivot ears 40 or 40 are provided on said upwardly extending trapping or cutting arms I6 or I6 for pivotal mounting thereof on said pivot pin 38 or 3B. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-4 I mount a second pivot pin 42 transversely of said frame 36 in rear of said first pivot pin 38 and I pivotally mount the guide lever 44 on said second pivot pin 42 in rear of said trapping or cutting arm I6 having a work arm 46 projecting upwardly and forwardly therefrom to abut said trapping arm I6 to advance it and a power arm I8 having the strand receiving guides 20 and 20 in rear of the downwardly tapered outer end 26 of said post 22 adapted on abutment of a slub I4 in said strand I2 thereagainst to move its integral respective work arm 46 to abut said trapping or cutting lever arm IE to raise it against said post 22 to break all said strands. The lever 44 is provided with suitable ears 45 for mounting on said pivot pin 42. In the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6, however, the second pivot pin 42 is omitted. The work arm 46 is omitted and the guide means I8 is integrally connected to the cutting arm I6 by the connecting portion 50' and it is apparent that employing this construction, abutment of a slub I4 against the guide means I8 will cause a positive raising of the trapping arm I6 to cause the cutting or trapping edge 24' thereof to abut the post 22 to cut all the strands I2 and I2 where a plurality are employed or a single strand I2 if one strand only be employed.

It is obvious, however, that the construction 7 shown in Figs. 1-4 with a lost motion connection for a plurality of strands may be employed in the construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6 for a single strand and it is also apparent that the integral connection shown in Figs. 5 and 6 for a single strand may be equally well employed for a plurality of strands. In the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the guide means includes a plurality of thin blades 52 and 52 mounted on the lever 44 so as to provide the respective slot 20 between them. This construction may, if desired, be similarly employed for a plurality of strands. The. individual blades 52 and 52 are preferably provided with upper ends downwardly tapering from the outer to the inner edges thereof to aid in guiding the respective strand I2 into its slot 26. The rear portion 33 or 33 of the invented U-base 32 or 32 of said frame is preferably raised upwardly, as shown, to a position adjacent the strand passing thereover to lay the respective fuzzy yarn projecting from the strand to prevent it from abutting its respective trapping arm I6 or l6 and moving it to falsely actuate the slub catcher. I

It is apparent that I haveprovided a novel type of slub catcher which may be .used for a single strand or a plurality :of strands, constructed-of a small number of simple parts,-positive in their action, which may be readily threaded and which is particularly adapted for use in twisting or doubling strands, eliminating the former step of winding and with the other advantages mentioned above.

I employ the word post in the claims to in- .clude any type of a rigidly mounted member against which the cutting or trapping means may function to break the strand or plurality of strands.

It is understood that my invention is not limited to the specific embodiments shown and that various deviations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is: 1. A slub catcher for use in twisting, doubling -or like machines having twisting or draft means acting on a plurality of strands, comprising a post adapted to be mounted to extend transversely horizontally above said strands, having a downwardly tapered outer end, pivotally mounted trapping or cutting means terminating in a trapping or cutting edge below said post adjacent the strands normally biased by gravityaway from said post and limited in its forward pivotable trapping or cutting movement by said acting on a plurality of strands, comprising a post adapted to be mounted to extend transversely horizontally above said strands, a pivotally mounted trapping or cutting plate terminating in a trappingor cutting edge belowsaid post adjacent the strands normally biasedby gravity away from said post and limited in its forward pivotable trapping or cutting movement by said post and an integral strand guide means having a plurality of strand receiving slots therein in rear of said post, adapted on abutment of a slub in a strand thereagainst to raise said trapping or cutting edge against said post to break all said strands.

3. A slub catcher for :use .in twisting, doubling or like machines having twisting or draft means acting on a plurality of strands comprising an inverted U-shaped frame adapted to be mounted on said machine transversely in rear of said twisting or draft means having acentral transverse slot therein over which said strands are adapted to pass and a post mounted to extend transversely horizontally'above said strands having a. downwardly tapered .outer end, pivotally mounted trap-ping or cutting means terminating in a trapping or cutting edge below said post adjacent the strands normally biasedby gravity away from said post and limited in its rear pivotable movement by the rear edge of said transverse slot and in its forward pivotable trapping or cutting movement by said post and strand guide means having a plurality of strand receiving slots in rear of the downwardly tapered outer ;:end of said post, adapted on abutment of a'slub .in .a strand thereagainst to vraisesaid trapping :or. cutting edge against said post to break all said strands.

4. A slub catcher for use in twisting, doubling or like machines having twisting or draft means acting on a plurality of strands, comprising an inverted U-shaped frame adapted to be mounted on said machine transversely in rear of said twisting or draft means having a central transverse slot therein over which said strands-are adapted to passand a post mounted to extend transversely horizontally above said strands, pivotally mounted trapping or cutting means terminating in a trapping or cutting edge below said post adjacent the strands normally biased by gravity away from said post and. limited in its rear pivotable movement by the rear edge of said transverse slot and in its forward pivotable trapping or cutting movement by said post and strand guide means having a plurality of strand receiving slots in .rear of said post, adapted on abutment'of a slub in a strand thereagainst to raisesaid trapping or cutting edge against said post to break all saidstrands.

5. A slub catcher for use in twisting, "winding, spinning, doubling or like machines having twisting or draft means acting on a strand, comp-rising a post adapted to be mounted to extend transversely horizontally above said strand, having a downwardly tapered outer end, pivotally mounted trapping or cutting means terminating in a trapping or cutting edge below said post adjacent the strandnorrnally biased by gravity away fromsaid post and limited in itsforward pivotable trapping or cutting movement by said post andstrand guide means having a strand receiving slot in rear of the downwardly tapered outer end of said post, adapted on abutment of a club in said strand thereagainst to raise said trapping or cutting edge against said post to break said strand.

6. A slub catcher for use in twisting, winding, spinning, doubling or like machines'having twist- .ing ordraft means acting on a strand, comprising an inverted U-shaped frame adapted to be mounted on said machine transversely in rear of said twisting or draft means having a central transverse slot therein over which said strand is adapted to pass and a post mounted to extend transversely horizontally above said strand having a downwardly tapered outer end, pivotally mounted trapping or cutting means-terminating in a trapping or cutting edge below said post adjacent the strand normally biased by gravity away from said post and limited in its rear pivotable movement by the rear edge ,of said transverse slot and in its forward pivotable trapping or cutting movement by said ,post and strand guide means having a strand receiving slot in rear of the downwardly tapered-outer end of said post adapted on abutment of a slub in said strand thereagainst to raise said trapping or cutting edge against said post to break said strand.

7. A slub catcher for use in twisting, doubling or like machines having twisting or draft means acting on a strand, comprising an inverted U- shaped frame adapted to be mountedon said machine transversely in rear of said twisting or draft means having a central transverse-slot the strand normally biased by gravity away from saidipost and limited inits rear pivotable' move- :ment by the rear edge ofsaid transverse slot and in its forward pivotable trapping 'or cutting movement by said post, and strand guide means having a strand receiving slot in rear of'said post, adapted on abutment of a 'slub in said strand thereagainst to raise said trapping or cutting edge against said post to break said strand.

8. A slub catcher for use in twisting, winding, spinning, doublingor like machines having twisting or draft means acting ona strand, comprising an inverted U-shaped frame adapted to be limited in its rear pivotable movement by the rear edge of said transverse s1ot,'andiin its forward pivotable trapping or cutting movement by said post, a second pivot pin mounted transversely of said frame in rear of said first pivot pin, a guide lever pivotally mounted on said second pivot pin in rear of said trapping or cutting arm having a work arm projecting upwardly and forwardly therefrom to abut said trapping or cutting arm to advance it and'a power arm having a strand receiving guide in rear of the downwardly tapered outer end of said post adapted on abutment of a slub in said strand thereagainst to move said work arm to abut said trapping or cutting arm to raise it against said post to break said strand.

9. A slub catcher for use in twisting, winding, spinning, doubling or like machines having twisting or draft means acting on a strand comprising an inverted U-shaped frame adapted to be mounted on said machine transversely in rear of said twisting or draft means having a central transverse slot therein over which said strand is adapted to pass and a post mounted on one side thereof to extend transversely horizontally over said slot above said strand having a downwardly tapered outer end, a pivot pin mounted transversely of said frame below said post, and a lever having a trapping or cutting arm pivotally mounted on said pivot pin extending upwardly through said frame transverse slot and terminating in a trapping or cutting edge below said post adjacent the strand limited in its pivotable movement by the rear edge of said transverse slot, and in its forward pivotable trapping or cutting movement by said post, and a power arm having a strand receiving guide in rear of the downwardly tapered outer end of said post adapted on abutment of a slub in said strand thereagainst to raise said trapping or cutting arm against said post to break said strand.

10. A slub catcher for use in twisting, winding, spinning, doubling or like machines having twisting or draft means acting on astrand, comprising a post adapted to be mounted to extend transversely horizontally above said strand, a pivotally mounted trapping or cutting arm terminating in an upwardly extending trapping or cutting edge below said post adjacent the strand normally biased by gravity away from said post and limited in its forward pivotable trapping or cutting movement by said post, a guide lever pivot- ,ally mounted in rear of said trapping or cutting arm having a work arm projecting upwardly and forwardly therefrom to abut said trapping arm to advance it and a pivotally mounted power arm having a plurality of strand receiving guides in rear of said post adapted on abutment of a slub insaid strand thereagainst to raise said work arm to ,abut said trapping or cutting arm to raise it against said post to break said strand.

11. A slub catcher foruse in twisting, winding, spinning, doubling 'or like machines having twisting or draft means acting on a strand, comprising a post mounted on one side thereof to extend transversely horizontally over said slot above said strand, a pivot pin mounted transversely of said frame below said post, a trapping or cutting arm pivotally mounted on said pivot pin extending upwardly through said frame transverse slot and terminating in a trapping or cutting edge below said post adjacent the strand limited in its rear pivotable movement by the rear edge of said transverse slot and in its forward pivotable trapping or cutting movement by said post, a second pivot pin mounted transversely of said frame in rear of said first pivot pin, a guide lever pivotally mounted on said second pivot pin in rear of said trapping or cutting arm having a work arm projecting upwardly and forwardly therefrom to abut said trapping .or cutting arm to advance it and a power arm having a strand receiving guide adapted on abutment of a slub in said strand thereagainst to move said work arm to abut said trapping or cutting arm to raise it against said post to break said strand.

12. A slub catcher for use in twisting, winding, spinning, doub1ing or like machines having twisting or draft means acting on a strand comprising an inverted U-shaped frame adapted to be mounted on saidmachine transversely in rear of said twisting or draft means. having a central transverse slot therein over which said strand is adapted to pass and a post mounted on one side thereof to extend transversely horizontally over said slot above said strand, a pivot pin mounted transversely of said frame below said post, a lever having a trapping or cutting arm pivotally mounted on said pivot pin extending upwardly through said frame transverse slot and terminating in a trapping or cutting edge below said post adjacent the strand limited in its rear pivotable movement by the rear edge of said transverse slot and in its forward pivotable trapping or cutting movement by said post and a power arm having a strand receiving guide adapted on abutment of a slub in said strand thereagainst to. raise said trapping or cutting arm against said post to break said strand.

13. In a slub catcher. for use in twisting or doubling a plurality of strands which may have slubs therein, cutting means for all said strands,

and strand guide means having a plurality of strand apertures of a size to normally permit passage of single strands therethrough, all of the elements of one of said means being connected together to function substantially simultaneously whereby a slub in any strand contacting the side walls of its respective strand aperture may actuate said strand cutting means to break allof said strands.

.14; Ina slub catcher for use in twisting or douxbling a plurality of strands which may have slubs therein, cutting means for all said strands, and strand guide means having a plurality of strand apertures of a size to normally permit passage of single strands therethrough, all of theeleapertures of a size to normally permit passage of single strands therethrough, all of the elements of said cutting means being connected together to function substantially simultaneously whereby a slub in any strand contacting the side ate said strand cutting means to break all said walls of its respective strand aperture may actustrands.

HENRY OWENS. 

